Book review: 'Open Souls'

Saturday

May 23, 2015 at 11:42 PM

The novel "Open Souls" starts with an interesting premise: The year is 1662. In St. Augustine's plaza, a pirate is about to be hanged. Ana Martinez is an unwilling witness to the execution, but she has a mission to accomplish. At the moment the man's soul is released, she is prepared to capture it and seal it into a small box. In her cottage on St. George Street, Ana has a shelf full of such small boxes. So long as they remain sealed, humanity is protected from their contents. But what if, in modern-day St. Augustine, a box is opened and the soul inside released?

While this story delves into the arcane and mysterious world of ghostly souls and supernatural happenings, it also offers an intriguing glimpse into a part of St. Augustine's culture of which tourists and many locals may be unaware. It's a world inhabited by mostly young people who make a marginal living as tattoo artists, small shop owners, food servers and ghost tour guides. They are willing to make do with menial jobs and limited resources in order to enjoy the freedom their lifestyle offers. Brad, who operates a tattoo shop, and Olivia, who bakes cupcakes with ghoulish themes, are both seeking more meaning in their lives. Their futures collide when Olivia opens the small box she discovered between the paws of one of the lions that guard the bridge. The spirit is released, and both their lives take a different path, shadowed by the enigmatic spirit.

This novel will appeal to readers who are drawn to the supernatural, but it will also appeal to those who want thoughtful insights into the struggles that challenge and influence people's destinies. The fact that the characters and their relationships are well drawn makes it easier to suspend disbelief and accept the premise the story requires that a ghostly spirit may move us and move among us.

Be warned that the sex scenes in this book are graphically described and inappropriate for young readers. The casual couplings that are often the norm within the group the author portrays a culture shift that is evidenced in today's society in both large and small ways. In the hidebound, tightly wound era of the 1950s, when a woman put on an apron, it was in order to dust and mop and bake so hubby could come home to a sparkling clean house. In this modern tale, the apron she dons is the frilly kind worn by French maids. It's her sole garment, and there is no hubby.

Becky Pourchot is a gifted wordsmith. Her prose is creative, often colorful and makes good use of symbolism as in this segment near the end of the book: "As Brad pulled away, he paused to look one more time at the lion, when he noticed something hovering above the statue. A silvery osprey was soaring just a few feet overhead, its feathered silhouette a beacon in the black of the night."

Q&A WITH BECKY POURCHOT

What age group and what sort of reader do you see as the audience for this book?

"Open Souls" is for readers 18 and above. The subject matter is not suited for early teens. It's a psychological thriller, with a paranormal twist and strong romantic elements. Readers who are into strong characters and intense emotional conflict will enjoy this book. Because of the St. Augustine setting, readers from the area who don't generally go for those genres are enjoying it, too.

Tell me about your previously published works and how this story relates to them.

My first book is a humorous memoir, "I Look Better in Binary," about my awkward childhood growing up Jewish in the Midwest and revolves around the 13 most embarrassing events of my young life. "Forgive Me Martha" is another comical memoir where I confess to Martha Stewart all my failings as a homemaker. This book of poetry and short, funny vignettes is about my life in suburbia with infant twins and an 8-year-old son. I literally wrote the book during nap times.

"The Hungry Ghost" series for young adults is a blend of the quirky humor of "Binary" and "Martha" and the paranormal. Gala, a teenage girl, moves to Flagler Beach only to find her home is haunted. She's forced into clearing the ghosts from her small beach town.

The theme in all my books is that of self-discovery. My main characters seek to better understand themselves and who they really are as human beings.

How did music influence you as you were writing this story?

When I started writing "Open Souls," I was listening to a lot of classic rock - Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, the Doors. As I listened to the music, my characters ended up listening to it as well. My favorite scene is when Olivia strips off her clothes and dances naked to "Kashmir." It's so sensual and one of my favorite songs.

What inspires your interest in the paranormal?

When I worked as a freelance journalist, every Halloween I'd bring a psychic medium into an old, reportedly haunted building, and we'd look for ghosts. After writing "Food for a Hungry Ghost," people would come up to me and confess their own paranormal experiences. I decided to document their stories by hosting a YouTube talk show called "That's SO Bizarre" where I interview people who have had weird and wonderful experiences. I feature new stories every week. (thatssobizarre.com)

Many times I've heard people say "Write what you know" and that's just what I do. I write stories from my heart that reflects who I am. I choose locations I love, like St. Augustine and Flagler Beach, while also featuring that dark and spooky realm of the paranormal that I love so much.

What other writers have influenced your work?

"The Hungry Ghost" series was influenced mostly by TV - "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Ghost Hunters" and MTV's show "Awkward." My autobiographical stories were most inspired by memoirists David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs. The action-packed, highly structured stories of friend and fellow writer Tim Baker inspired "Open Souls" and helped me to shift my tone from short preteen novellas to a book with intensity and adult themes.

'Open Souls'

Becky Pourchot

Paperback: 291 pages

Price: $14.99

Available at: Amazon

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Stay Connected

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The St. Augustine Record ~ One News Place, St. Augustine, FL 32086 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service